[YBnormal07]

This months Super Street mag has a lot of WRXs in it. After looking at all the various looks presented, more and more I'm liking the wingless look. I makes the rear look more muscular to my eye, highlights the down slope across the center line rear, and enhances the forward motion appearance from the overall wedge shaped side profile.

I'm even thinking of removing the large wing coming with my STi when it finally gets here. I currently own a WRX and it appears that the wing is easily removable. Anyone out there done this yet, and if so, what did it entail? Just curious as I'm prepping early for my own personal STi look when I finally get my hands on it. (note the "finally" appearing twice...yeah...I'm a bit anxious to get it...just like everyone else on here).

Thanks in advace to anyone that can supply info on this topic. I'm particularly looking for closeups of the inside of the trunk deck (thats "boot" for you expats).

Cheers,
Scott

 

[4MLA1FN]

sti/wrx readings

I'm even thinking of removing the large wing coming with my STi when it finally gets here.

what will you do about the holes that are left?

 

[CloNeGTS]

Removal will be real easy. Just a few bolts in the trunk lid. Not even wires to worry about. It appears as if the wing is actually two pieces, so the top piece will probably come off first, and then the bottom.

But as stated above....you're going to have holes in your trunk lid. Best way to fix that is to buy or trade with someone without a wing, but the chance of the paint not matching is pretty good.

 

[YBnormal07]

Re: STi Front Mount Intercooler

Thanks for the replies. As for the holes, short term I'll use some silicone or rubber smooth faced piercing type grommets, either clear or blue. These won't be all that noticable and it will allow me to add the wing back on at any time. I could even cover these up with some custom removalbe vinyl graphics same color as the car or with a covering desing. Something about an inch in diamater.

As for the removal, isn't the rear upper light a part of the lower element? If so, that would entail some wiring as I'm almost positive some of the harness disappears into the trunk lid. Any suggestion about this issue...other than the k-mart special rear window light. Do I need this light for legal reasons? I seem to remember something about a miminim height level for rear lights mandated by the safety nazis. Thats when all those single upper lights started appearing. I guess I could always go "knight-rider" on it and put in sequential pulsing LEDs !!!! <just kidding of course>

Thanks,
Scott

 

[CloNeGTS]

Ah yeah...duh.....for some reason I seemed to forget about the LEDs.

Yes, you will be running illegally if there isn't a 3rd light in the rear window of the car. I don't know if there is one or not. If there isn't, you should be able to add the unit that is in the WRX, since it does not have a wing with the brake light.

The wiring should be pretty simple. Just a few wires running through one of the holes in the trunk. This means you will have at least one extra hole in the trunk though for those wires.

 

[murley]

Hey there guys. I actually had a customer that did just that. He yanked off the spoiler and what was left were 4 (four) holes in the deck. 2 approximately one inch in diameter and 2 about one half inch in diameter. Now the STi wing I couldn't tell you because we haven't had one yet.

 

[YBnormal07]

Again thanks for the info. It seems that my only obstacle will be the rear light. Even on my WRX the light is fixed in the wing, so I'm scurrying around now to find a pic of a wingless WRX to see where the light is located. Top of trunk or back of window. Guess I can call my dealer to find out if it can be ordered..install shouldn't be too dificult.

Since I'm going this route, might as well go with a CF rear trunk deck also. I've seen them in pics and they look great. Less weight, and this way I wouldn't have to patch the holes so on re-sell it will still have stock parts.

Abrigado,
Scott

 

[CloNeGTS]

CF would be cool. That way you can just not worry about the holes and wiring all together. If you remove the whole trunk lid, there should just be a harness in the trunk to unhook.

I didn't think the WRX wing had a light in it...but I see it is there. Haha...cant' tell I don't own a Rex, can't ya??

There HAS to be some kind of unit to have inside the rear window. With a wingless WRX, the light isn't on the trunk anywhere.

Obviously no "extra" light in the rear window on the STi. Something will have to be added. Now we just need to find out where to get it.

I've been looking around for detailed pictures of WRXs with no wings for a while now.....someone has to know this.......

 

[YBnormal07]

Of the six WRX's in the Super Street mag, 3 had no wings. I couldn't detect an upper rear light on any of them. One had a close up of the rear deck and window and there was no light. One of them was right hand drive, so probably not the same safety laws. Anyone know were I can research the law that dictates the high placement of the light? Like I said earlier, I'd rather not go with one of those k-mart specials in the rear window. If possible, I'd rather just not have the light. Alternatively, anyone seen an aftermarket light that looks good after the install?

ok...back to the re-runs of the swedish and turkey WRC runs on speed channel!!!

Scott

 

[CloNeGTS]

Actually, something you could do pretty easily on your own is make a strip of LEDs that can be just barely seen in the top of the window. Heck, you could probably pull the display out of the wing and intergrate that pretty easily.

Usually I'd say don't worry about it....it's just a simple law that you'll probably never get pulled over for....but this one is actually pretty important.

Good luck finding something.

 

[jbhebert]

On my early production WRX with a wing there is a standard 3rd brake light mounted at the bottom of the rear glass (inside), as well as the light on the spoiler. This is no doubt due to the fact that some WRXs have wings and some don't, whereas the STis will ALL have wings (hence, no glass-mount 3rd brake light). My feeling on the 3rd brake light is that it is truely an important safety feature. It makes a car much more visable from behind when braking, especially if the car has one or more tail lights out. I'd rather not get rear ended in my STi, so I'm going to make sure my 3rd brake light is always operational.

 

[daghdha]

With all this talk about removing the wing, what about replacing the wing with a regular WRX wing? are the bolt spacing the same? i.e. how hard would it be to replace the sti wing with a wrx wing? I remember reading that the sti trunk lid was thinner than a normal wrx's (*sigh* I hope that putting a bike rack on the trunk doesn't bend the lid), so I don't know if this means that there will be issues with replacing the sti wing with a WRX wing.

I looked around for previous discussions about this, but didn't find any...

me, I'd like to replace the hood scoop and the sti wing with something more reasonable...I wanna go semi-stealth! (as much as I can...can't do anything about the brembo brakes.

josh.

 

[CloNeGTS]

Where would you hear the trunk lid on the STi is thinner than that of the WRX? I really doubt they would go to the trouble of making completely separate trunk lids. Along with the fact that the rear wing is for downforce, it wouldn't make much sense to take the support out from under a wing that will be purposefully applying force downward.

As far as the hole spacing....you might want to see if you can find a forum or other source from Japan or the UK. They would have the wing right in front of them to be able to see for sure.

 

[daghdha]

whops. I tried to remember where I heard it. then I found the article, but it was about the Type RA Spec C. I think I got turned around when there was talk about the new STI to have the Spec C geometry for the front wheels, etc, etc... that I got confused. oops.

whew.

josh.

 

[drbroccoli]

So I get rid of my Civic SiR, get in line for a WRX STi, and what? I have to have something stuck on my trunk that makes me look like I want to compete with an F18? And gold rims?
Yukk!
I plan to yank the wing and sell the 'gold' rims to some 'brain-dead teenager'. I guess I'll keep the wing for resale, if I survive 300hp of testosterone boost to stand in line for the 2006 WRX, (350hp) and those nifty F18 parachute brakes. . . :-?

 

[BMo]

I agree with the rear wing being a bit much. I might think it cool if I was still 18 but I'm not (It's long gone). But can anyone comment about it's functionality? I know it's for rear downforce but at what speed does it really make a difference, 50mph, 80, 120? I also like the idea about replacing it with the more subtle WRX wing.

 

[ValvetrainEngineer]

I'm planning on swapping the monster STi wing with a stock WRX - dealer is throwing in the wrx wing at their cost ($250?), I'll swap myself. Hood scoop is nice though, of course I'm biased since I also own a '69 Firebird 400 with dual hood intakes....

 

[CloNeGTS]

I hope you're planning on a full trunk lid swap of some kind. The STi is held on by far more bolts than the stock WRX wing.....

 

[4MLA1FN]

this place has cover for the spoiler holes on the wrx.

http://cc-b.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=OR00512&Category_Code=SI04

my *guess* is a) it won't be long before they have stuff for the sti and/or b) you just need to buy two sets of those covers cuz they'll fit our car, but you'll need more since there are more bolt holes.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

this place has cover for the spoiler holes on the wrx.

http://cc-b.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=OR00512&Category_Code=SI04

my *guess* is a) it won't be long before they have stuff for the sti and/or b) you just need to buy two sets of those covers cuz they'll fit our car, but you'll need more since there are more bolt holes.

Hmm, any pics of the covers? I'm very interested. Thanks.